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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia — the second most powerful earthquake in the state's recorded history — which was felt up and down the east coast of the United States from Atlanta, Georgia to Maine.

Imagine seeing this Delta rocket swaying back and forth like a twig in a breeze. That was my view after I darted out the back door of the NASA Goddard Visitor Center during our 5.9 earthquake this afternoon.

The nearby Nike rocket was also dancing.

I managed a quick run through the building to evacuate it and get myself out in time to see almost everything in our Rocket Garden swaying. The Visitor Center building was moving both vertically and horizontally.

It was fascinating. Got to love those plate tectonics! And yes, we closed early today.

According to employees' tweets, NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC was also briefly evacuated.

The Smithsonian — including the National Air and Space Museum — closed for the remainder the day because of an earthquake.

Apollo-Soyuz

I hope all my collectSPACE friends who felt the earthquake are all right. It was my first experience with one.

SpaceAholic

I'm in DC this week - the quake got everybody out of meetings, off work a couple of hours early. Not a bad deal...

Fezman92

To quote a somewhat well known science fiction movie, it was "interesting."

music_space

Each mild earthquake makes me ponder the fact that solid-object collections of fragile objects on shelves or curios are notoriously at risk -- especially thin, vertical presentations. I shiver when I imagine someone's plate collections, for instance.

That's why I always think of that when I build the support for such an object, for it to be earthquake-resistant (which also makes it resistant to shuffling induced by cleaning-up, etc.)

ilbasso

I was somewhat disconcerted to hear my 5'x3' framed Apollo poster clattering against my wall. Just a reminder that nothing is truly safe anywhere! Perhaps it survived the earthquake only to be drenched in the upcoming hurricane!

Fezman92

quote:Originally posted by ilbasso:Perhaps it survived the earthquake only to be drenched in the upcoming hurricane!

I'm thinking along those lines as well. Luckily all of my stuff is either securely packed away in padded boxes which are in larger boxes which are put in a safe place, or in slip-covers that are in binders which are between shelves, or they are firmly in the walls on screws that are anchored into the walls. As a precaution, I may move some of my stuff.

MarylandSpace

I was mowing the lawn on my John Deere at the time and knew nothing of the earthquake until several hours later.

I hope all my cS friends are safe now and will be safe from Irene.

Fra Mauro

In New York, things were fine after we realized what it was. After everything we have been through it wasn't so bad. The TV stations of course get very dramatic and milk it to the extreme.

gleopold

The house swayed back and forth for about 15 seconds, not at all like the jolt we felt a few years ago. The frequency reach a peaked, then descended, which was unexpected. A couple of pictures fell off the book shelves and a squirrel's nest fell out of a pine tree. I noticed all the bars here in Reston were full by 4 p.m., so it was good for the local economy....

David Carey

quote:Originally posted by gleopold:I noticed all the bars here in Reston were full by 4 p.m., so it was good for the local economy....

Well George, I'd have been right there with them. I know it was modest by California standards but even the little 4.0 I've experienced was quite un-nerving. Glad you're OK and hope the same holds for all other cS-ers in the area... and of course the squirrel.

stsmithva

quote:Originally posted by gleopold:I noticed all the bars here in Reston were full by 4 p.m., so it was good for the local economy....

Ha! I went grocery shopping last night, and it seemed as if everyone over 21 was buying wine or beer. Aftershock stress reliever!

It was quite strong in a small townhouse about 70 miles from the epicenter. I didn't think for an instant "large truck right out on the street." I thought "nuclear bomb."

On a collecting note, I have a variety of models and other delicate items, but with a three-year-old in the house I pretty much always assume every day they are in danger of being shaken and store them securely.

Fezman92

I assume you figured it wasn't a nuke when no mushroom clouds appeared? Or when there was no EMP wave?

Spacepsycho

Not to diminish your earthquake experience, but having lived close to the epicenters of a 6.7, 6.9, 6.9, 7.5, 6.5, 6.1 and many hundreds of 4.0 - 5.9 earthquakes, my thoughts are with you guys.

I don't display anything important anymore, after losing thousands of dollars of antique crystal in the Northridge earthquake, when a china cabinet fell over face down.

To this day when I hear or feel rumbling, even from a passing truck, I get into survival mode and start moving to my son.

Scott, maybe you can ask a few of your buddies in the USN, about a high pitched frequency sound, that came across the SOSUS net 6 hours before the 9.0 Indonesian earthquake.

SkyMan1958

My daughter is flying from here (Silicon Valley) to D.C. tomorrow to start Georgetown U. Clearly Mother Nature was just letting all you DC'ites know that a CA. girl is coming to town...